Boot protector



J. N. ELTGROTH.

BOOT PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1921.

1,422,683, P ien ed July L, 19221.

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mares stares PATENT JOHN N. ELTGROTI-I, OF FAIRMONT, MINNESOTA.

BOOT PROTECT OR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 12, 1921. Serial No. 514,605.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoIrN N. E L'roRo'rH, b

. use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in boot protectors for shovelers and the like, and has for its object to provide such a protector that is extremely simple, durable and easy to apply to the foot of a workman or remove therefrom.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the acocmpanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters in dicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved boot protector applied to the foot of the workman;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the invention as shown in Fig. 2 with some parts broken away.

The improved boot protector, as shown, comprises a heel plate 4' and a sole plate 5 cast integral, the one with the other, and offset to form a heel-engaging shoulder 6 on the top thereof and a tool, such as a shovel, engaging shoulder 7 on the bottom thereof spaced forward of said heel-engaglng shoulder. Said heel-engaging shoulder 6 is arranged to be engaged by the heel 8 of a shoe or boot 9, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sole plate 5 is curved to fit the sole of said shoe.

To lighten the boot protector, there are formed therein, front and rear apertures 10 and 11, respectively, the former of which is formed partly in the heel plate 4 and partly in the sole plate 5 and extends through the shoulders 6 and 7, and the latter of said apertures is formed entirely 1n said sole plate. The apertures 10 and 11 also permit the escape of dirt and mud which may work in between the boot and applied protector.

The boot protector is attached to the foot I of a workman by a heel bail 12, said heel strap 13 and a toe bail 14. Each bail 12 and 14 18 formed from a single plece of rela tively heavy wire and attached to the boot protector for swinging movement longitudinally thereof, by bending their end portions laterally toward each other, and mounting the rear ba1l12 in a pair of aligned seats 15 formed in the boot protector between the shoulders 6 and 7, and the bail 14 in aligned seats 16- formed in a pair of depen ding lugs 17 onthe bottomof the sole plate 5. The end portions of the'bail12 are extended intothe aperture 10 and again bent laterally at 18 to hold said end portions against removal from the seats 15; The ;end portions of the bail 14 extend completely through the lugs 17 and are again bent laterally at 19 to afford stop fingers 19 arranged to engage the sole plate 5 and limit the forward swinging movement of the bail 14 so that it normally extends upright. The bail 12, from its seats 15, extends upright and is then bent into, substantially, a horizontal position so that its transverse portion engages the back of the shoe 9, just above or at the top of its counter.

The heel strap 13 is formed in two sections attached to the upright portions of the bail 12 and which sections are adjustably connected by a buckle 20, for application over the boot 9, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the above description, it is evident that the bails 12 and 14 securely hold the boot protect-or in position on a boot or shoe against lateral twisting movement, and the bail 12 holds the protector with its heelengaging shoulder 6 against the heel of the boot 9. By means of the buckle-equipped strap 13, the boot protector is firmly held against the heel and sole of the shoe 9 and the arrangement of the bails 12 and 14 and strap 13 is such that they will not chafe or rub when the boot protector is in use. Said boot protector is especially adapted for workmen doing heavy shoveling, such as ditch digging, and removes the wear from a boot or shoe. \Vhile the bail 14 holds the sole plate 5, it does not bind or interfere with the action of the wearers foot to which it is applied. By making the boot protector of cast metal, the same will last indefinitely and will not bend or get out of shape. To apply the boot protector, it is only necessary to slip the foot through the toe bail Patented July 11, 192.2.

1. A boot protector having a sole plate,

provided with a heel-engaging shoulder, a toe bail attached to the sole plate, and a heel bail pivoted to the sole plate.

2. A boot protector having a sole plate provided with a heel-engaging shoulder, a toe bail attached to the sole plate, a heel V bail pivoted to the sole plate, and a buckle- I equipped heel strap attached to the heel bail.

3. A boot protector having a sole plate provided with a heel-engaging shoulder, toe and heel bails pivoted to the sole plate, and a buckle-equipped heel strap attached to the heel bail.

4:. A boot protector having a sole plate provided with a heel-engaging shoulder, toe and heel bails pivoted to the sole plate, means for limiting the forward pivotal movement of the toe bail, and a buckleequlipped heel strap attached to the heel bai 5. A boot protector having a sole plate provided with a heel-engaging shoulder,v said shoulder having an intermediate aper- V ture, a heel bail having its end portions bent laterally and pivotally mounted in seats in the sole plate at said shoulder, said end portions of the heel bail being extended into said aperture and upset to hold the heel bail against removal from the sole plate, and a llguclklaequipped strap attached to the heel 6. A boot protector having a sole plate provided with a heel-engaging shoulder, said shoulder having an intermediate aperture, a heel bail having its end portions bent laterally and pivotally mounted in seats in the sole plate at said shoulder, said end portions of the heel bail being extended into said aperture'and upset to hold the heel bail against removal from the sole plate, a buckle-equipped strap attached to the heel bail, said sole plate having a pair of laterally spaced depending lugs, a'toe bail pivotally. mounted in seats in said lugs, the end portions of the toe bail being bent laterally for engagement with the sole plate to limit the forward pivotal movement of said toe bail.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. 7 JOHN N. ELTGROTH. 

